During the interview, the two also discussed the world's turbulent political climate, which led to president Trumptweeting a ridiculous and insulting message to both Lemon and James.

CNN's Lemon and Don Rather have since responded to the inflammatory remarks by Trump, Rather calling the president a disgrace and Lemon questioning who the "real dummy" is. "He made Lebron look smart, which isn't easy to do", the president tweeted of the Los Angeles Lakers player.

US President Donald Trump has taunted US basketball player Lebron James and suggested that he prefers Michael Jordan.

Donald Trump has sparked uproar online after taking aim at basketball superstar LeBron James, with many social media users calling the USA president "racist" and a "bully".

James has never been shy about expressing his feelings about President Trump.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, defended James in a tweet, praising the star's philanthropy and his I Promise school, and wading into a long-running debate as to who's better: LeBron or MJ.

President Trump slammed LeBron James this weekend, questioning the National Basketball Association great's intellectual prowess - but first lady Melania Trump had nicer things to say about the newly minted L.A. Laker, and so did Hillary Clinton. The visit came on the heels of controversy over Trump's late Friday tweet.

Trump had apparently watched the rebroadcast of the interview, which originally aired Monday, CNN said. Trump, meanwhile, is headed to OH, as he is set to hold a "Make America Great Again" rally in Lewis Center, just north of Columbus, on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

James has always been critical of Mr Trump.

Mr. Trump is traveling to OH on Saturday for a campaign rally. A man who puts kids in classrooms or one who puts kids in cages? He also created a program for parents of the at-risk children to return to complete their high school educations, and he has planned an institute to help prepare high-school-age students for college. Trump tweeted his LeBron venom a day before making a trip to, you guessed it, Ohio.